Can-opener.



No. 040,732. Patented 1an. 9, |900. A. L. BAKER.

CAN OPENER.,

ication led Jan. 2B, 1899 p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED L. BAKER, OF MANSFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA.

CAN-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,732, dated January 9, 1900. Application filed Januaryr 23,1899. Serial No. 703,126. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Barbour and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Can-Opener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to canopeners, and is designed more particularly to out the top open at a single stroke, the object of the invention being to provide a cheap and simple device in which a can of any size can be arranged and opened ata single operation by forcing a circular opening by the cuttingblade through the top of the can.

'With this object in View the invention consist-s, essentially, of a suitable frame within which the can is placed, a blade having its cutting edge shaped, essentially, in the form of a circle, said blade being carried upon a movable cross-piece adapted to slide upon the side members of the frame, and the operating-lever having concentric portions adapted to bear upon the said cross-piece for the purpose of forcing the same down.

The invention consists also in constructing the frame in such a manner as to make it adaptable for all sizes of cans; and the invention also includes means for adjusting the cutting or opening blade whereby a large or small size can can be opened; and the invention consists also in providing means for returning all of the various parts to their natural positions.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can-opener constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner of adjusting the device to a particular can. Fig. 3 is a sectional view onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4L is a bottom plan view of the movable crosspiece, showing the means for expanding and contracting the cutting blade or knife, the said knife being shown in section.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I employ a suitable frame adapted to receive the can to be opened, said frame being preferably constructed with an essentially circular base A, from which extend the parallel side members B, said side members having inwardly-projecting ledges C, adapted to support the movable base or rest D, said movable base or rest having grooved edges, as shown at D', into which ledges C are adapted to pass.

.The movable base or rest D is slid between the uprights B in case it is not desired to have the grooves D', and the movable base or support can rest directly upon the ledges C and will be guided in their movements by means of depending flanges D2,as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. A crosspiece E is arranged to slide upon the uprights B, said cross-piece having parallel openings E', through which the uprights pass. Said cross-piece' is made considerably thicker surrounding said openings, as most clearly shown at E2, in order to guide and steady the movement of the cross--` piece upon the said uprights, said enlargement E2 being arranged upon the lower side of the cross-piece E and resting upon the coiled spring F, which is arranged within an opening F', cut in the upright near the upper d end, said spring being held in position by means of a depending pin F2 and the upwardly-projecting end F3,'arranged, respectively, at the upper and lower ends of the opening F'. The cross-piece E is also formed with a central circular boss G upon the under side, and surrounding this boss is a spiral or eccentric flange H, nearly concentric With the boss Gr, but having an opening H', for a purpose hereinafter described.

The cutting oropeningbladelis constructed of sheet-steel shaped, essentially, in the form of a cylinder and having the lowerl edge constructed of the cutting-teeth I'. The cutting edge of the knife or blade is,v therefore, essentially circular in shape, so that when it is forced down upon the top of the can a circular opening will be made at a single stroke. The upper end of the-opener--the cutting blade or knife-rests against the underside of the crosspiece E,between the central boss Gand the surrounding flange I'I, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A spindle K passes through the cross-piece and central boss and has the knob K' upon its uppery end, by means of which the spindle can be turned as desired. Spreading IOO arms L are passed through the lower end of the spindle at essentially right angles to each other, said spreading arms passing along through the cylindrical-shaped opening and the blade or knife at a point below the iiange H, one of said arms bearing directly upon the under side of said iiange, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. The purpose of these arms and the spindle to which they are attached is to adjust the size of the circle which will be cut by the knife, and by turning the spindle in the direction indicated Yby the arrow ot in Fig. 4 the size of the circle will be reduced, whereas by moving it in the reverse direction, so as to cause the blade to move in the direction indicated by arrow b, the said blade will be moved around upon the outside of the ange H, thereby increasing the size of the circle which will Abe out by the blade or knife, it being understood that moving the spindle in one direction causes theblade to turn within the iiange, while moving it in the reverse direction causes it to turn on the outside of the iiange, and in this manner its size is increased or decreased, as desired, the sides of the blade sliding freely upon the spreading arms. In order to project the cutting blade or knife through the head of the can, I employ an operating-lever M, bifurcated, as shown, the ends vof the bifurcation having eccentric en- Y largements M', said ends being pivotally attached to the ends of the uprights, as most clearly shown in Figs. l and 3, so that by throwing the lever down the eccentric por-4 tions M bear upon the cross-piece E and cause it to descend, carrying with it the cutting `or opening knife, forcing the toothedv edge through the top of the can.

In ease the can is a long oneii will rest directly upon the base A; but in case it should be short the movable base or rest D will be adjusted to the proper height and the can placed thereon, as shown in Fig. 2. The blade Will also be adjusted to the proper size, and the lever Will then be thrown dovvn,v driving the blade through the top and cutting an lessentially circular slot at one operation, there being only a small portion of the head of the can uncut, which will act as a hinge when the cut-out portion is turned back.

It will thus be seen that I provide a canopener Which will completely open the top of the can at a single operation, and consequently it will be seen that I provide a device Which is adapted for use upon cans of all sizes, both high and low and having either a broad or narrow top.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

l. In a can-opener, the combination with the cross-piece, of the cylindrically-shaped knife carried thereby, the spiral flange on said cross-piece, and the spreading arms and spindle carried by said cross-piece and supporting said knife substantially as described.

2. In a can-opener the combination with the cross-piece, of the eylindricaliy-shaped knife carried thereby, the spiral iiange on said cross-piece, and the Spreading arms and spindle carried by said cross-piece and supporting said knife, the frame adapted to receive and hold a can, said frame having uprights upon which the cross-piece slides, and a lever adapted to bear upon the cross-piece to force it down and the spring to force it up substantially as set forth.

8. In a can-opener, the combination with a frame having uprights provided with in-` wardly-projecting ledges, of an adjustable base or rest adapted to engage said ledges, an adjustable crossvpiece slidably secured upon said frame, of the cylindrically-shaped knife carried by said cross-piece, the spiral .flange on said cross-piece and the spreading Varms and spindle carried by said cross-piece and supporting said knife substantially as described.

4. In a can-opener, the combination with a frame having uprights, provided with aseries of inwardly-projecting ledges upon which an adjustable base or rest is adapted to be seated, of a movable cross-piece mounted on said frame and carry/ing a cylindrically- 'shaped expansible and contractible knife,

the spiral dange on said cross-piece, andthe spreading arms and spindle carried by said cross-piece, a lever ladapted to bear upon the cross-piece to bear it down, a spring arranged on each side of the frame and cross-piece and designed to force the latter into its normal position substantially as set forth.

ALFRED L. BAKER.

Witnesses:

Unas. H. KNAPP, A. D. VZ. STRIOKLER.

IDO 

